PAP MPs think that income inequality is okay

[winnipegjets]

Playing Robin Hood 'may cause class wars'

By Leonard Lim
The Straits Times
Saturday, Mar 09, 2013

SINGAPORE - Playing Robin Hood too much to tackle inequality may lead to a hardening of class distinctions, Nominated MP Eugene Tan warned the Government on Wednesday.

"A class war between the haves and the have-nots is debilitating," he added in his speech during the Budget debate.

His speech was in contrast to those from MPs who called for a more progressive income tax structure in the wake of "wealth" taxes on luxury cars and property announced in last week's Budget.

Assistant Professor Tan hoped that such redistribution programmes would be minimised, and asked Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam to elaborate on the development of this progressive tax system.

"In the context of today's political climate, does the increasing progressivity of our tax system also signal the rise of redistribution as a means of managing the inequalities in our society?" he asked, questioning if these moves were "appeasement tendencies". Noting that income transfers have risen over the years, he cautioned such moves could unintentionally give rise to a crutch mentality.

He suggested making non-income support a central feature of the social support system instead. Mr Ong Teng Koon (Sembawang GRC) also warned against making the tax structure more progressive as it might cause some to leave the country.

"The marginal increase in taxes from a higher rate might not be more than the marginal decrease from an exodus. We might end up with a smaller tax pie instead. And in the process, also succeed in decreasing the incentive to work," he said.

These warnings came as Ms Denise Phua (Moulmein-Kallang GRC) added her voice to the call for increasing income tax rates on wealthiest Singaporeans.

"The value that those of us who do well must also do good is worth anchoring and applying throughout Singapore," she said.

The highest income tax rate for a taxable income of over $320,000 now is 20 per cent, below that for top earners in Australia and the United States.

Under Ms Phua's "Do Good Tax" proposal, those earning more than $500,000 and up to $1 million will contribute 1 per cent more in income tax. Every additional $500,000 beyond that will attract another 1 per cent tax, up to a maximum of 25 per cent.

 

[winnipegjets]

Playing Robin Hood too much to tackle inequality may lead to a hardening of class distinctions, Nominated MP Eugene Tan warned the Government on Wednesday.....Noting that income transfers have risen over the years, he cautioned such moves could unintentionally give rise to a crutch mentality. Mr Ong Teng Koon (Sembawang GRC) also warned against making the tax structure more progressive as it might cause some to leave the country.

That's the attitude of these elitist PAPpies. If you are poor, you are damn ...and the government should just let your rot and die. The poor should stalk these MPs and curse them. Bring some voodoo dolls and pierce them.

 

[Reddog]

Playing Robin Hood 'may cause class wars'

By Leonard Lim
The Straits Times
Saturday, Mar 09, 2013

SINGAPORE - Playing Robin Hood too much to tackle inequality may lead to a hardening of class distinctions, Nominated MP Eugene Tan warned the Government on Wednesday.

"A class war between the haves and the have-nots is debilitating," he added in his speech during the Budget debate.

His speech was in contrast to those from MPs who called for a more progressive income tax structure in the wake of "wealth" taxes on luxury cars and property announced in last week's Budget.

Assistant Professor Tan hoped that such redistribution programmes would be minimised, and asked Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam to elaborate on the development of this progressive tax system.

"In the context of today's political climate, does the increasing progressivity of our tax system also signal the rise of redistribution as a means of managing the inequalities in our society?" he asked, questioning if these moves were "appeasement tendencies". Noting that income transfers have risen over the years, he cautioned such moves could unintentionally give rise to a crutch mentality.

He suggested making non-income support a central feature of the social support system instead. Mr Ong Teng Koon (Sembawang GRC) also warned against making the tax structure more progressive as it might cause some to leave the country.

"The marginal increase in taxes from a higher rate might not be more than the marginal decrease from an exodus. We might end up with a smaller tax pie instead. And in the process, also succeed in decreasing the incentive to work," he said.

These warnings came as Ms Denise Phua (Moulmein-Kallang GRC) added her voice to the call for increasing income tax rates on wealthiest Singaporeans.

"The value that those of us who do well must also do good is worth anchoring and applying throughout Singapore," she said.

The highest income tax rate for a taxable income of over $320,000 now is 20 per cent, below that for top earners in Australia and the United States.

Under Ms Phua's "Do Good Tax" proposal, those earning more than $500,000 and up to $1 million will contribute 1 per cent more in income tax. Every additional $500,000 beyond that will attract another 1 per cent tax, up to a maximum of 25 per cent.

Income inequality is always good for the wealthy and elites like pap mps, ministars and their wealthy cronies. No acceptable for the rest of Singaporeans, who have problem everyday with basic survival against ever rising cost of living and gst.

 

[MBSSLOTS]

Income inequality is good mah, or else the whole society gets lazy and not innovative if rewards for hardwork is too evenly spread out.

Of course, what PAP needs to do is to ensure that income gap is not widen else, you will get a social revolt like what we are seeing in SG now.

 

[The_Hypocrite]

Asking for just 1% for every 500k pap also
Make such a boo haha is really funny. N good to b rich..got heaps of pappie support

 

[winnipegjets]

Income inequality is good mah, or else the whole society gets lazy and not innovative if rewards for hardwork is too evenly spread out. Of course, what PAP needs to do is to ensure that income gap is not widen else, you will get a social revolt like what we are seeing in SG now.

Some income inequality is totally acceptable. But it also depends on whether those are a consequence of capitalism or created by the government. In sinkapore's case, it is caused by government policy of letting in 2.3 million foreigners. That is not acceptable.

 

[MBSSLOTS]

Some income inequality is totally acceptable. But it also depends on whether those are a consequence of capitalism or created by the government. In sinkapore's case, it is caused by government policy of letting in 2.3 million foreigners. That is not acceptable.

It all boils down to the grey area of what is "some".

 

[Leongsam]

Those who are against income inequality can start doing something about it without having to wait for the PAP to act.

If you're earning $3000 and there's someone else in your company only earning $1500, hand over $750 to that poor chap every month and you'll have done your part towards achieving equality in your own small way.

 

[MBSSLOTS]

Those who are against income inequality can start doing something about it without having to wait for the PAP to act.

If you're earning $3000 and there's someone else in your company only earning $1500, hand over $750 to that poor chap every month and you'll have done your part towards achieving equality in your own small way.

well said....clap clap clap....

 

[Fook Seng]

Those who are against income inequality can start doing something about it without having to wait for the PAP to act.

Most people do not even know how to vote in someone who can remove their misery. You are now urging them to take things in their own hands.

 

[Leongsam]

Most people do not even know how to vote in someone who can remove their misery. You are now urging them to take things in their own hands.

No politician is going to remove anyone's misery unless the politician happens to be a close relative and he's going to grant special favours to his familee.

NZ goes from left to right every few years and it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to the average man in the street. The rich get richer... the poor remain poor.

Again I have to remind everyone that it will make no difference to your life whether the PAP, the WP or some other party is in power. Life will go on.

Change comes from within. It's in your own hands.

 

[MBSSLOTS]

No politician is going to remove anyone's misery unless the politician happens to be a close relative and he's going to grant special favours to his familee.

NZ goes from left to right every few years and it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to the average man in the street. The rich get richer... the poor remain poor.

Again I have to remind everyone that it will make no difference to your life whether the PAP, the WP or some other party is in power. Life will go on.

Change comes from within. It's in your own hands.

Another truism from Sam the Wiseman.
Every govt is the same.

 

[laksaboy]

Playing Robin Hood 'may cause class wars'

Wrong. Playing King Louis XVI will cause class wars. And you know which side won in France after the revolution.

You elites may not care about the poor people despite your outwardly pretensions.

But it is a good thing for you to bridge the income gap:

1) It keeps the people rich enough to purchase your goods and services.
2) It keeps them from rising up and cutting your heads off.

Robin Hood or King Louis XVI? The choice is yours.

 

[Debonerman]

Again I have to remind everyone that it will make no difference to your life whether the PAP, the WP or some other party is in power.

An incontrovertible truth! No argument about it. The problem is that we wish that some form of vote buying in cash could be adopted. But the PAP won't pay and the Opposition don't have the money to.

 

[jw5]

Forget about income equality.
When income equity is implemented, some of these clowns will have their past salaries clawed back.